This most interesting surname, though recorded in the 19th Century in Ireland, is almost certainly of Spanish origin. It may derive from either a Spanish medieval personal name, from the Latin "Nunnius", "Munnius" composed of the Germanic element "mund", protection, or from the Spanish word "nono", meaning ninth, hence perhaps a nickname given to the ninth member of a family. The curious appearance of the name in Ireland was probably a result of the trading connections between Spain and the west and south-west Irish coasts. The surname first appears in the early 18th Century Spanish Church Records (see below). The only recordings in Irish Church Registers is the birth of one Charles Napoleon, son of Charles Louis and Helen Nono (nee Byrne) on July 23rd, 1865 at Ennis, Co. Clare. Spanish recordings include the following double-barrelled surname: Teresa Rosa Francisca Nono-Surriba, daughter of Balentin and Rosa Nono (nee Surriba), who was christened on February 24th, 1869 at Santa Maria, Amer, Gerona. A Coat of Arms was granted to a family of the name in Padoue, Quebec. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Joan Nono, who married Francisca Boix which was dated December 25th 1727, at "Santa Maria, La Bisbal, Gerona, Spain", during the reign of King Philip V of Spain, 1700 - 1735. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

© Copyright: Name Origin Research 1980 - 2024